No pollution, say industrialists:

Environmentalists in Wayamba up in arms

by Lalin Fernandopulle

Environmentalists in Wayamba said that all appeals to save the province from the environmental disaster caused by manufacturing companies have fallen on deaf ears and that there would be a major uprising worse than Rathupaswela, if the authorities fail to intervene soon to address the issue.

Ven. Wekandawela Rahula Thera, an ardent campaigner against destruction of the environment in the area said he would lay down his life for the well-being of the people and the environment that is under severe threat due to the release of lead and other hazardous chemicals to the air and water.

“ I am not prepared to compromise with committing heinous crimes. I will fight to the end to ensure that these dastardly acts are brought to a halt,” he said.

It is alleged that Nico Battery Manufacturing Ltd., in Bingiriya is a threat to the people in Pathawewa due to the heating of lead which releases harmful chemicals to the environment.

EL Toro (Pvt) Ltd., manufacturers roofing sheets using cellulose fibre in Anawilundawa in the Arachchikattuwa Divisional Secretariat area in the Puttalam district.

Managing Director, Nico Battery Manufacturing Ltd. Sampath Gunaratne said this is a fabricated story by those who have not seen the operations of the company with the aim of gaining personal mileage.

“I reject the baseless allegations with absolute proof of safety measures the company has taken to ensure there is no adverse impact on the environment.”

“I invite all those who make these claims that we pollute the environment to visit the factory and see the true picture before jumping into conclusions,” he said.

Deputy Head of Manufacture, EL Toro Roofing Products, Kapila Jinadasa said the company is the first non-asbestos manufacturing company in Sri Lanka.

“We use cement, fibre and sand to manufacture roofing sheets which is not harmful to the environment. There are no emissions. We will recycle 100 percent of the refuse and ensure the safety of the environment. We will commence operations in June 2016.”

Chairman, Central Environmental Authority, Prof. Lal Mervin Dhramasiri said following a complaint by environmental associations and people in the area against the setting up of EL Toro company which will be using a cellulose fibrer to manufacture roofing sheets that would be catastrophic to the environment to President Maithripala Sirisena, the Central Environmental Authority had launched an investigation into the matter.

“We are ready to investigate and take action under CEA regulations against any institution or person who cause harm to the environment. However, when our official go to the site of these companies they are not allowed to proceed and carry out investigations.

The company officials say the CEA has no authority and that it is the Wayamba Environmental Authority that could carry out investigations,” Prof. Dharmasiri said.

He said steps will be taken to solve these problems in Wayamba following a meeting with the President soon.

However, environmental association representatives in the area said that the Wayamba

Environmental Authority which was set up by a politician without the approval of parliament has no legal authority to mediate and stop the environmental pollution caused by industries in the province.

They alleged that the Wayamba Environmental Authority is hand in glove with the companies that pollute the environment and it is a stumbling bloc to carrying out investigations.

Ven. Rahula Thera said people in Patahwewa have been taken for a ride by Nico company officials promising to provide jobs to youth in the area and help improve the economy in the area to prevent mass uprising against the company.

He said the heating of lead has had an adverse impact on the health of the people in the area while many children have fallen ill. The primary reason is that no proper feasibility study was done regarding the impact on the environment in selecting the location to set up the factory.

Environmentalists said that due to the high composition of lead in the soil and water, plants and animal species are threatened.

The release of sulphuric acid to the soil and sulphur dioxide to the air is causing a major environmental catastrophe.President, Environment Protection Association, Anawilundapaththu, S. M. Sumathipala said the

Anawilundawa wet land bird sanctuary and other irrigation systems are under threat due to the release of harmful products to the environment by battery and roofing sheet manufacturing companies. The report released on July 8, following a meeting between President Maithripala Sirisena and the stakeholders on June 9, the CEA had instructed EL Toro (Pvt) Ltd., that the Environment Impact Assessment report should comprise the impact the factory could cause on the environment. The company has to obtain approval from the relevant authorities that there would be no adverse impact on the soil in filling land, an analytical report from the Water Board on the volume and extraction of water and also secure approval from the Irrigation Department to ensure that no damage is caused to the irrigation systems in the area.